manhattan, but without the money
I just moved here in July so, in theory, I only had a couple months to experience this city in what may someday be called its “heyday.” I always expected to be part of Manhattan’s have-not constituency, but wore it as a badge of honor (if I can last the week with $40 here, I can make it anywhere!) If you’d told me back then that formerly lucrative Wall-Street types would soon be walking in my worn out, not-great-for-winter shoes, I would have laughed. Or worse, I would’ve hopped right back on my JetBlue flight to Long Beach for fear that in no time at all, I’d be shuffling along in far less than Target ballet flats.
An odd thing has happened with this recession. Stripped of cash, our essentials are laid bare as quite interesting things. Such as wedding rings, monthly mani-pedis and eating out, at least in New York, so says New York Magazine: http://nymag.com/news/business/54091/. I was never allowed to spend on any of the above luxuries (especially the wedding ring-might come off a bit odd) so I’m taking it to the next level and proud of that fact. Canned asparagus may taste funny, but it’s not as expensive as fresh! I’m not going to be above anything.
